Phase Shifter, Antenna and Base Station Containing the Phase Shifter

Abstract

The embodiment of the present disclosure provides a phase shifter, including a cavity, a dielectric phase shifting unit located in the cavity, and a signal transmission line. The dielectric phase shifting unit is located between the cavity shell and a part of the signal transmission line. The dielectric phase shifting unit includes at least one dielectric block with a circular cross-section, and its thickness is gradually changed with the circle center as the center. It uses the rotation of the dielectric block instead of sliding to change the relative dielectric constant of the air strip line, which saves the current extension space required for the sliding of the dielectric block, and obtains a continuously adjustable small-size phase shifter, thereby enabling the miniaturization of the base station.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A phase shifter, comprising:
 a cavity;   a dielectric phase shifting unit located in the cavity; and   a signal transmission line located in the cavity, the dielectric phase shifting unit being located between a shell of the cavity and a part of the signal transmission line;   wherein the dielectric phase shifting unit comprises a first dielectric block with a circular cross section and a thickness gradually changed with a circle center as a center.   
     
     
         16 . The phase shifter of  claim 15 , further comprising a rotating shaft located at a shaft center of the first dielectric block, so that the first dielectric block rotates with the circle center as the shaft center. 
     
     
         17 . The phase shifter of  claim 16 , wherein
 the dielectric phase shifting unit further comprises a second circular dielectric block having the thickness gradually changed with the circle center as the center, and mirror-symmetrical to the first dielectric block;   the part of the signal transmission line is located between the first dielectric block and the second dielectric block, forming a pair of dielectric blocks; and   the rotating shaft connects the circle centers of the first dielectric block and the second dielectric block.   
     
     
         18 . The phase shifter of  claim 16 , further comprising a gear located outside the cavity and combined with the rotating shaft so that the rotating shaft drives the dielectric block to rotate with the rotation of the gear. 
     
     
         19 . The phase shifter of  claim 15 , wherein an overlapping portion of the signal transmission line and the dielectric phase shifting unit is curved back and forth. 
     
     
         20 . The phase shifter of  claim 15 , wherein
 the signal transmission line is gate-shaped, and the first dielectric block and the second dielectric block is located on one side of the gate-type signal transmission line; and   the phase shifter further comprises another pair of dielectric blocks and a matching rotating shaft, located on an opposite side to the side where the first dielectric block and the second dielectric block is located.   
     
     
         21 . The phase shifter of  claim 15 , further comprising a low-pass filter connected in series with the signal transmission line and located in the cavity. 
     
     
         22 . The phase shifter of  claim 21 , wherein the low-pass filter comprises a sheet metal part. 
     
     
         23 . The phase shifter of  claim 22 , wherein the low-pass filter further comprises a dielectric block wrapping the sheet metal part. 
     
     
         24 . An antenna unit comprising the phase shifter of  claim 15 . 
     
     
         25 . The antenna unit of  claim 24 , wherein the phase shifter further comprises a low-pass filter connected in series with the signal transmission line and located in the cavity. 
     
     
         26 . The antenna unit of  claim 25 , wherein the low-pass filter further comprises a sheet metal part and a dielectric block wrapping the sheet metal part. 
     
     
         27 . A base station comprising an antenna unit, wherein the antenna unit comprises the phase shifter of  claim 15 . 
     
     
         28 . The base station of  claim 27 , wherein the phase shifter further comprises a low-pass filter connected in series with the signal transmission line and located in the cavity.